RGB mod an NES2?

[Samurai Ghost]

I've never really experienced lag before as I always use CRTs but I think noticeable lag would drive me crazy. I'd rather have slightly crappier video display than a laggy game.

[Arkhan]

yes.  If the xrgbxrgxrgb is going to make everything play like crap, I don't want to do it.
but they are so recommended by everyone that I can't imagine it being an issue.

[grahf]

It's not.

[Arkhan]

yay. Now I just need to find one.  

I should've bid 5 more dollars on the xrgb2.  damnit.


by the looks of it, the XRGB Mini isn't a good idea.  It only has HDMI out, I think?

or maybe that is a good thing? 

[grahf]

It's a great thing, if you want to put the picture on an LCD. If you don't, what do you want to play the thing on?

What makes the mini special is that it does analog to digital practically lag free. That's it's big selling point, and why it official name is "Frame Meister". Other affordable analog to digital stuff on the market until now has been either laggy, completely unaffordable, or usually both.

[Arkhan]

The target monitor is my 55" sony bravia LED tv.

I have a Commodore 1084S-D1, but it looks fine with composite because its a 1084, so I don't bother RGBing with it. (Plus it's the one 1084S model that is apparently a pain in the cock to use RGB on from MSX and PCE).

So, the frame meister would actually be a good idea?  I keep passing on them. 

Does it do good scanlines? Does it have the same kind of connectivity the other XRGBs have?  Is it worth it over an XRGB1 or 2 if I want to use a big LED tv?

I ask too many questions.

[Samurai Ghost]

Nah these are good questions! I don't use a flatscreen myself but a lot of my friends and family only have them. So I was thinking about picking one up for when I play at other people's places or if I ever actually get a flatscreen at some point.

[grahf]

The target monitor is my 55" sony bravia LED tv.
Does it do good scanlines? Does it have the same kind of connectivity the other XRGBs have?  Is it worth it over an XRGB1 or 2 if I want to use a big LED tv?

The Mini does scanlines, but the intensity is currently unadjustable. I don't use them myself, but people say they're "decent". This is something that may be addressed in a future firmware update. Google some screenshots and see what you think.

The mini has inputs for RGB, Composite, S-Video, HDMI and Component (over Japanese D-cable).

As far as I know all the older XRGBs can do VGA output, which may or may not look amazing on your HDTV, and may or may not have a lot of lag. The TV has to convert the analog VGA signal into digital to display it on the panel, and just like composite input, the quality varies by TV. This conversion process is the key point, and this is exactly what the Mini is for. It does all the converting, and lets you feed a digital signal from the HDMI cable right to the LCD with no additional muckery by the TV. (The mini has NO VGA support though, just to note).

The only way you're going to know if VGA input will work for you, is by testing your TV and a CRT monitor side-by-side. If it's not acceptable, you need a Mini. if it is, you can look into any of the older models. It would also be cool to get a hold of a video like the XRGB guys use in order to compare lag.

[GohanX]

If you AV mod a NES2, I should point out that there are two types of mods:

The more common but crappy kind has pretty bad image quality. You see those jailbars and crap when you hook it up through RF? It's worse in composite.

The better type is to essentially hand build the composite video circuit from a toaster model, but it requires a part from a toaster model NES, making it a bit more expensive if you don't have a junk NES motherboard laying around. This produces video identical to the toaster, which (for composite) it pretty darned good. I <3 my AV modded NES2.

Or...just use a toaster and fix it up to run well.

[Arkhan]

The Mini does scanlines, but the intensity is currently unadjustable. I don't use them myself, but people say they're "decent". This is something that may be addressed in a future firmware update. Google some screenshots and see what you think.

Oh,ok.   I can always get an SLG3000, I think?  or that only works with vga... I forget.

The mini has inputs for RGB, Composite, S-Video, HDMI and Component (over Japanese D-cable).

When you say inputs for RGB, what do you mean exactly.  It looked like a little DIN connector of some sort.  I get the feeling trying to find cables for that to hook things like SMS, Genesis, SNES, and PCe up to it is going to be a pain.

As far as I know all the older XRGBs can do VGA output, which may or may not look amazing on your HDTV, and may or may not have a lot of lag. The TV has to convert the analog VGA signal into digital to display it on the panel, and just like composite input, the quality varies by TV. This conversion process is the key point, and this is exactly what the Mini is for. It does all the converting, and lets you feed a digital signal from the HDMI cable right to the LCD with no additional muckery by the TV. (The mini has NO VGA support though, just to note).

The only way you're going to know if VGA input will work for you, is by testing your TV and a CRT monitor side-by-side. If it's not acceptable, you need a Mini. if it is, you can look into any of the older models. It would also be cool to get a hold of a video like the XRGB guys use in order to compare lag.

Not sure what you mean about testing my TV and a CRT monitor side by side.


I do have a PC hooked up via VGA right now.  It looks nice and doesn't lag.  This is probably not what you mean though.

[grahf]

Yeah, SLG3000 is VGA only.

It has a mini-din-8 for RGB input (same connector as PCE controllers). It comes with a little adapter cable for Japanese RGB cables, which is the one that looks like SCART but with a different pinout. You get Japanese RGB cables for the systems that have them, and build cables for everything else.

The reason I suggest testing your TV and CRT monitor side by side is to compare lag. CRT should have none, but your TV will. Whether or not it's negligible or horrible depends on your TV. If you're happy with VGA input quality on it, then you can consider the older XRGBs as viable (and cheaper) options as well.

[Arkhan]

Yeah, SLG3000 is VGA only.
It has a mini-din-8 for RGB input (same connector as PCE controllers). It comes with a little adapter cable for Japanese RGB cables, which is the one that looks like SCART but with a different pinout. You get Japanese RGB cables for the systems that have them, and build cables for everything else.

OH. Ok. It comes with an adapter.  That takes care of that.  I think the only system I'll need to build a cable for is the PCE.  SMS, MD, SFC all have them already.
 Not sure how the dreamcast will turn out with this stuff though.  Hopefully it's ok.  The XRGB3 has special dreamcast nonsense in it, IIRC.

The reason I suggest testing your TV and CRT monitor side by side is to compare lag. CRT should have none, but your TV will. Whether or not it's negligible or horrible depends on your TV. If you're happy with VGA input quality on it, then you can consider the older XRGBs as viable (and cheaper) options as well.

Oh.  Duhr.  I tried composite PCE on my HDTV.  It felt goofy. It might just be me though.  I'll give it another test with the 1084 and TV side by side and see how it feels.

Maybe I can find a cheap frame meister then.  I keep seeing RGB3's sorta cheap now.  I wonder if the framemeister is the reason for that...


edit:  I read the framemeister review again, and don't know if it's really worth it over an older, cheaper alternative.

I also have no idea if my VGA input on my TV is going to produce lag. 

The review I read mentions using a Faroudja based line doubler (VP30), and an SLG3000, and it is cheaper. 
 

[RegalSin]

Okay this needs to end. Back in the 1980s to 1990s all video hardware was analog like the way your eyes see.
This means you video output is only as good as your hardware.

You can guess why I would defend composite. Because I am using a pretty damn good standard televsion. Unlike those shots from CC website, composite is actually pretty good, only when your screen is good.

Most people using flatscreens have to understand. Their composites are not good on purpose.

[Arkhan]

Okay this needs to end. Back in the 1980s to 1990s all video hardware was analog like the way your eyes see.
This means you video output is only as good as your hardware.

You can guess why I would defend composite. Because I am using a pretty damn good standard televsion. Unlike those shots from CC website, composite is actually pretty good, only when your screen is good.

Most people using flatscreens have to understand. Their composites are not good on purpose.

please leave my thread.  You are too dumb to talk in it.

[Bernie]

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!  I love it.